Politics in City Hall? You bet!

The news is that Common Council members want the feds to roll up their sleeves and take an unprecedented look at how City Hall spends block grant dollars and operates its two primary economic development agencies.

Reports my colleague Brian Meyer:

Five Buffalo lawmakers are calling for the federal government to conduct a full-blown audit of the city's anti-poverty programs.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's has already issued a report that highlighted 19 deficiencies in the way Buffalo has spent block grant money. But members of the Common Council's ruling majority don't think the federal report went far enough in scrutinizing spending and lending practices at the Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corp. and the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency.

The city lawmakers are sending a letter to HUD Inspector General Kenneth M. Donohue Sr., asking him to take the "extraordinary step" of performing a "full and complete audit."

The irony is the Brown administration claiming it's all political.

"This is yet another example of Council Member Kearns' thinly veiled political agenda masquerading as good government," said Peter K. Cutler. "With Mickey, it's all politics, all the time."

Now, it's pretty obvious that the call by Kearns and Delaware Council Member Mike LoCurto, among otheers, for a federal review serves Kearns' political interests, given that he's running against Brown for mayor. No disputing that.

But, come on.

First off, after Brown got elected, he hired his campaign manager as his deputy mayor. Deputy Mayor Steve Casey is now functioning, so far as we can tell, as campaign manager. A perfect circle.

Together, Brown and Casey have politicized City Hall beyond its normal state of affairs, which is saying a lot. Just ask all the city employees being "encouraged" to work on Brown's re-election campaign, right down to "suggestions" of how many hours a week they might "volunteer" and what days and times they might do so.  

Second, given that federal audits have time and time again found fault with the city's management of the block grant program -- 19 serious problems, according to the latest review -- and the fiasco involving One Sunset, does anyone seriously believe there are not problems worthy of a look-see beyond what the understaffed city comptroller can provide?

Keep in mind that the first response by the Brown administration to the critical HUD audit issued this spring wasn't to call his people together to talk about how they could fix the problems. No, it was to pick up the phone and try and silence the local HUD office.

Comments

[enoughalready]

Of course there are problems- the city wastes a boatload of money on salaries and not where/how the money should be spend- improving neighborhoods, infrastructure, and economic development. What's worse, HUD still sends this inept city more money after finding problems! Brown and his puppets continue the tradition of waste, and fraud! HELLLLO FBI?

[George C.]

Recently, I called city hall to find some help for a friend who is an elderly woman with cancer that has a leaky roof in South Buffalo. No money available for the Emergency Program I was told. Program unfunded I was told. Politics by Kearns? I am glad he is fighting for answers and solutions. I will tell Dolores not to worry that her roof is falling in. Just put a bucket under it. The 130,000 that was wasted at One Sunset could have helped 10 people deserving people get new roofs. Politics, says Brown, he lost that argument a long time ago.

[Gil]

The mayor's office has been misusing block grant funds for years. This is not new news. This funding is used for patronage and funding store front agencies stocked with mayoral friends and family. Unfortuantely no one does anything about it. Year after year Buffalo is cited for the misuse of these funds and everyone looks the other way. Its the taxpayers and residents of Buffalo who suffer. The politicians in City Hall could care less.

[my2cents]

Politics by Kearns: Traditional S.B. tactics. The people who support him, are the same group who supported Mayor Brown.

Kearns will - if elected serve the same group who put us in the mess we are in.

Its all about patronage and control of tax funded jobs.

Has our Mayor made mistakes - yes! But many people can see improvement.

Any person who walks through a snake pit is bound to step on one.

[james]

The Mayor is a liar. Casey is a Bully at best. The house of cards should fall any time now, their entire existence is built on lies and threats. Improvement? Where? That's a joke...I've lived here 19 years and have never seen it this bad.

[ihateny]

I wish i knew some of these scumbags, then i wouldnt be sitting in front of my laptop. I'd have a job instead.

[Colin]

I'm a broken record here, but I think One Sunset is different from the standard misuse of anti-poverty money. I mean, does Brian Davis normally write personal checks to cover the rent at other city-subsidized businesses? There is something more than just general corruption and incompetence at work here.

http://eagercolin.wordpress.com/2009/06/24/answering-the-why-in-the-one-sunset-scandal/

[jd]

ihateny
Use your laptop to search for jobs outside NY. Texas and Nebraska are listed as best places to find a good job, or E-mail Obama and tell him you're waiting for one of those millions of high paying green jobs he promised during his campaign.

[james]

Why is it impossible for anyone to do what is really just Right for The People, why does everything have to be selfish, short-sighted and corrupt? Jesus, it's sickening. Great Job Byron, wondering what "nothing" goes under on your short resume of failure?

[wastedtaxdollars]

Both developement agencies have become so politicized in the past few years, they used to be independent and had actual professionals running them, people who had experiance, actual degrees, and were not influenced by our elected officials. Thats how it is supposed to be so political favors are not done and decisions are based on facts and worthiness, not who knows who. If you know the right people, contribute to campaigns, you can get a job or a loan from these agencies. Special treatment for special people. They are wasting our tax dollars and it has become obvious they could care less. By doing this the Administration is just hurting the worthy businesses in this City. It proves they could care less, absolutley no ethics. HUD and the FBI need to be involved in any audits. Having the Comptrollers Office doing an audit is a joke. They knew about several of these issues long ago and failed to act until Mr. Heaney brought things to light. Keep up the good work Jim there is much more out there if you know where to look.